THE WEEK IN STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Stratford upon Avon
The Shakespeare Programme naturally travels to Stratford-upon-Avon where Shakespeare spent so much of his life and where the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Shakespeare Institute and the Shakespeare Centre and Birthplace Trust are based. At Stratford, students attend performances of Shakespeare's plays and attend classes arranged by the Shakespeare Institute and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Students spend this period of the program living in the same country town on the river banks of the Avon, where Shakespeare had his home. There they visit the places so closely identified with his life, such as Ann Hathaway's Cottage, Charlecoate Park, New Hall and Holy Trinity, the parish church where Shakespeare is buried. In recent years we have sometimes included visits to the very popular Christmas pantomime at Chipping Norton and nearby historical Warwick Castle. Stratford is inevitably the right and most appropriate place in which to end this exciting course of study.
    
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the Shakespeare Institute have organized joint educational programs since 1960. The Shakespeare Programme includes visits to the Royal Shakespeare Company which provides the basis for the lectures given by the academic staff of the two organizations as well as talks by members of the RSC itself. Classes are taken at the Shakespeare Centre where the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is based and follow the well-established tradition of the Shakespeare Institute of providing high caliber academic programs for students and scholars from across the world.
    
The program manager is on hand throughout the visit to Stratford to administer the course of study and to assist the students in every way possible.

THE STRATFORD SYLLABUS
   
During the time that the program is based in Stratford-upon-Avon, participants take classes each weekday except Wednesday, which is devoted to excursions made to places associated with Shakespeare and the Elizabethans. These include visits to places in Stratford such as New Place, Ann Hathaway's Cottage and Stratford's Church where Shakespeare is buried. Other excursions may be to Compton Wynyates, one of Britain's finest examples of an Elizabethan country house; to Charlecote Park where Shakespeare's father was a gamekeeper and to Warwick Castle. There may also be a special excursion to Oxford University including a visit to Blenheim Palace.

The classes have generally included:
Shakespeare
After the course introduction by Dr. Paul Edmondson, Head of Education at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, academic staff speaks on the Royal Shakespeare Company productions prior to their being seen by the students.
Production Discussions
Following each production there is a  discussion of the performance with the academic staff and with actors, directors or designers involved in the productions.
The Age of Shakespeare
Students attend a class on "Shakespeare and Stratford" which provides social and historical background.
Workshop
Andrew Wade, Head of Voice, Royal Shakespeare Company, leads a session.
Christmas Pantomime
When appropriate, students attend the traditional pantomime presented each year in the nearby village of Chipping Norton, and participate in a discussion of the performance.
Excursions
Visits may include Anne Hathaway's Cottage at Shottery, Mary Arden's House at Wilmcote, Warwick Castle and Kenilworth as well as Stratford's Shakespeare's Birthplace, New Place/Nash's House and Hall's Croft.


STUDENT LIFE AT STRATFORD
    
Students will travel by bus to Stratford-upon-Avon where registration will take place. Accommodation at Stratford is in guest houses, arranged by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Breakfast is also be provided.
    
At the end of the Stratford stay, the program will host a get-together. Following the period in Stratford, the group will return to London by bus.


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